NFL Teams Looking at 3 Bulldogs

Shane Bannon celebrates a touchdown. (photo by Kevin McCarthy)

Apr 13, 2011

Bannon, McCarthy, Blohm Getting Pro Workouts

NEW HAVEN, Conn.- The National Football League Draft is two weeks away and three Yale football players are working out for teams with hopes of having their names called at New York's Radio City Music Hall at some time on April 28, 29 or 30.

Seniors Shane Bannon (Southbury, Conn.), Tom McCarthy (Chester, NJ) and Chris Blohm (San Francisco, Calif.) have been making the pro scouts take notice in pro day events and private showcases.

Bannon (6-2, 265), a combination player who could become an NFL tight end, h-back or fullback, has worked out for Seattle and Kansas City and is heading to Green Bay for a pre-draft visit this week. He started every game last fall and had a career-best 13 catches playing the hybrid position.

The 2010 Yale captain, McCarthy (6-6, 267) played defensive end last fall and earned first-team All-Ivy honors while leading the team with four sacks. McCarthy has a tryout this week with the New York Giants.

Blohm (6-4, 260), who has a workout with the San Francisco 49ers next week, was Yale's starting TE. He earned second-team All-Ivy honors while making 26 catches.

The last Bulldog to have his name called on draft day was Nate Lawrie '04, who was taken by Tampa Bay in the sixth round (181 overall). Multiple Yale players were last selected in the same draft when Eric Johnson '01 (San Francisco) and Than Merrill '01 (Tampa Bay) were picked in the seventh round of the 2001 selections.